Introducing the “Visual Muzzle” (new patent)

A new patent from inventor Yee Chong Leung of Shatin, Hong Kong provides a warm cap for a pet (say, for example a dog) – but its key feature is that it also operates as an electronic ‘Visual Muzzle’.

Wearing the cap, the pet is obliged to look though goggles made of smart glass or plastic which can instantly turn opaque when electronically activated. The helmet also incorporates a camera system linked to an image processor which is programmed to identify (in real time) living creatures which could be possible victims of a dog attack. If the system detects a potential victim nearby, the goggles immediately become opaque – “such that the pet is temporarily impaired from seeing anything.“

See: ‘Warm cap with security features’ US patent granted Mar. 8th 2016.

Question [optional] The invention is primarily intended to protect humans from aggressive dogs – could the invention be scaled up and adapted to protect humans from each other?

Posted by Martin Gardiner on
Monday, April 18th, 2016 at 8:00 am
under Arts and science.